B Group - 8th April

Some twenty of us set out from the Effingham Vineries at 11:25. The air was cool to start with but the forecast was good and I knew that after riding up Dirtham Lane and Green Dene/Combe Lane we would all be feeling warm enough. This route, which continues down Combe Bottom and across to Shere and up Sandy Lane, is now a well worn one for B Group, not least because the gradients are moderate and the woodsy greenery usually puts us in good spirits. From the top Pam hurtled down Juniper Hill towards the A25 and the rest of us caught up a minute or two later.

At the top of Sandy Lane we frequently head towards Peaslake but this time we turned right, towards Farley Green, on a route that we hardly ever use. The route through to Shamley Green is extremely pleasant despite a few ups and downs. We crossed the B2128 into Hullbrook Lane which led us on to a narrow but well paved path across Lordshill Common. Just across the Wey and Arun Junction Canal there is a sharp and complicated right-hand turn up onto the Downs Link. We regrouped and trundled along the path towards Shalford. We passed through the gates to cross Station Road to ride past Bramley and Wonersh Station where two people were waiting. The station is well known for having been attacked by the Luftwaffe in 1942, killing several people. At the Tanyard Lane bridge we walked our bikes up onto the road and shortly joined Chinthurst Lane to ride into Wonersh.

During the recce I had intended to check out the pubs in Shamley Green but saw the Grantley Arms in Wonersh and changed my plan. I was advised that they could only handle a group of more than a dozen if we pre-ordered our food. I imagined that this would be a nightmare but along with a few orders collected at the Vineries I was able to pre-order for just about everyone. Our reward for enduring this minor tribulation was very prompt delivery of our meals and I thought that the food was of a very good standard, especially my fish cakes which seemed to contain at least 90% fish.

We departed along the Cranleigh Road towards Shamley Green but turned left up Northcote Lane and then took Littleford Lane up the hill to Blackheath. In conversations at lunch two or three people expressed their antipathy towards the idea of riding up the A25 to Newlands Corner and I was persuaded to turn up Guildford Lane before we reached Albury. Unfortunately I didn’t make a good job of communicating the two options to everyone and caused a certain amount of discombobulation for some. However, we drafted ourselves into two groups, one sensible and one daft, the sensible ones riding up the A25 and the daft ones following Vic’s cunning plan to ride up a very steep hill and then take a rough track through the wilderness to the Newlands Corner car park where we reunited with the sensible people who had kindly waited for us. My map shows both routes.

We zoomed down to the A246 and turned north at East Clandon to pass H M Prison and Ockham and ten of us went to Tea at the Medicine Garden.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the morning ride with its gentle hills, nice flat bits, lovely rural scenery, and at 14.4 miles, quite modest mileage. Much of the afternoon ride (15.6 miles) was excellent too although it would have been desirable to avoid the A25 and Newlands Corner. However I didn’t feel that the group would enjoy riding up Combe Bottom since we had already come down that road in the morning.

Many thanks to Peter Carpenter who rode as back marker and managed the tail end of the group with his characteristic efficiency. Especial thanks too to Angie who marked numerous corners to ensure that nobody got lost. Thanks to Tony, John and others who marked the corners where Angie wasn’t already stationed.

Thank you everyone for your very good company. It was good to see our two teachers David Vines and Stephanie again and also Chris Dent and Jennie who we only see from time to time. And Tammy, Liz's daughter who currently lives in Geneva, rode with us to lunch but became troubled with an inflamation around her eye so made her own arrangment to be transported back to Molesey.

~ Tim

Shamley Green - Downs Link - Wonersh, detail on OS Explorer